The 2026 NBA postseason tips off on Tuesday, when charlotte hornets host the Miami Heat And phoenix sun host the portland trail blazers In one of the play-in tournaments at night. Which team from the East will get one step closer to the eighth seeded team, and which contender from the West will secure a match with the second seeded team San Antonio Spurs?
Our NBA experts are picking every play-in showdown and first-round series in addition to Tuesday’s games.
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play-in tournament
pre first round
west first round
play-in tournament
philadelphia 76ers (7) V. orlando magic (8)
Jerry Bembry: Magic
Jamal Collier: 76ers
Vincent Goodwill: 76ers
Baxter Holmes: 76ers
Zach Cram: Magic
Tim McMahon: 76ers
Dave McMenamin: 76ers
Anthony Slater: 76ers
Ramona Shelburne: Magic
Mark J. Spears: 76ers
Michael C. Wright: Magic
Ohm Youngmisuk: Magic
Eric Moody: Magic
Final tally: 76ers 7, Magic 6
charlotte hornets (9) V. Miami Heat (10)
Jerry Bembry: Summer
Jamal Collier: Hornets
Vincent Harmony: Summer
Baxter Holmes: Hornets
Zach Cram: Hornets
Tim McMahon: Hornets
Dave McMenamin: Hornets
Anthony Slater: Hornets
Ramona Shelburne: Hornets
Mark J. spears: summer
Michael C. Wright: Hornets
Om Youngmisuk: Hornets
Eric Moody: Hornets
Final tally: Hornets 10, Heat 3
phoenix sun (7) V. portland trail blazers (8)
Jerry Bembry: Sons
Jamal Collier: Trail Blazers
Vincent Goodwill: Sons
Baxter Holmes: Trail Blazers
Zach Cram: Trail Blazers
Tim McMahon: Sons
Dave McMenamin: Sons
Anthony Slater: Sons
Ramona Shelburne: Sons
Mark J. Spears: Sons
Michael C. Wright: Sons
Om Youngmisuk: Sons
Eric Moody: Sons
Final tally: Suns 10, Trail Blazers 3
LA Clippers (9) V. Golden State Warriors (10)
Jerry Bembry: Clippers
Jamal Collier: Clippers
Vincent Goodwill: Clippers
Baxter Holmes: Clippers
Zach Cram: Clippers
Tim McMahon: Clippers
Dave McMenamin: Clippers
Anthony Slater: Warrior
Ramona Shelburne: Clippers
Mark J. Spears: Warrior
Michael C. Wright: Clippers
Om Youngmisuk: Clippers
Eric Moody: Clippers
Final tally: Clippers 11, Warriors 2
Eastern Conference First Round
new York Knicks (3) V. atlanta hawks (6)
Jerry Bembry: Knicks in 6
Vincent Goodwill: Knicks in 6
Baxter Holmes: Nicks in 6
Zach Cram: Knicks in 7
Tim McMahon: Knicks in 6
Dave McMenamin: Knicks in 6
Anthony Slater: Nicks in 6
Ramona Shelburne: Nicks in 5
Mark J. Spears: Nicks in 6
Michael C. Wright: Knicks in 7
Om Youngmisuk: Knicks in 6
Eric Moody: Knicks in 6
Final tally: Knicks 12, Hawks 0
cleveland cavaliers (4) V. Toronto Raptors (5)
Jerry Bembry: Cavaliers in 6
Vincent Goodwill: Cavaliers in 7
Baxter Holmes: Cavaliers in 6
Zach Cram: Cavaliers at 5
Tim McMahon: Cavaliers in 6
Dave McMenamin: Cavaliers in 6
Anthony Slater: Cavaliers in 6
Ramona Shelburne: Cavaliers in 6
Mark J. Spears: Cavaliers in 6
Michael C. Wright: Cavaliers in 7
Om Youngmisuk: Cavaliers in 6th
Eric Moody: Cavaliers in 5
Final tally: Cavaliers 12, Raptors 0
Western Conference First Round
denver nuggets (3) V. minnesota timberwolves (6)
Jerry Bembry: Nuggets in 7
Vincent Goodwill: Nuggets in 7
Baxter Holmes: Nuggets in 6
Zach Cram: Nuggets in 5
Tim McMahon: Nuggets in 7
Dave McMenamin: Nuggets in 7
Anthony Slater: Nuggets in 7
Ramona Shelburne: Nuggets in 5
Mark J. Spears: Nuggets in 6
Michael C. Wright: Nuggets in 7
Om Youngmisuk: Nuggets in 7
Eric Moody: Nuggets in 6
Final tally: Nuggets 12, Timberwolves 0
Los Angeles Lakers (4) V. Houston Rockets (5)
Jerry Bembry: Rockets in 7
Vincent Goodwill: Rockets in 5
Baxter Holmes: Rockets in 6
Zach Cram: Rockets in 6
Tim McMahon: Rockets in 6
Dave McMenamin: Rockets in 6
Anthony Slater: Rockets in 5
Ramona Shelburne: Rockets in 6
Mark J. Spears: Rockets in 6
Michael C. Wright: Rockets in 7
Om Youngmisuk: Rockets in 7
Eric Moody: Rockets in 5
Final tally: Rockets 12, Lakers 0
